ECOSOCC_medium-term strategy and plan of action for civil society engagement 57 views0 applications

This assistance is aimed at developing an organizational strategy for the engagement of civil society stakeholders in the African Governance Architecture. The strategy will establish the overarching framework to guide the formulation, dissemination, and use of policy advisory outputs from ECOSOCC and its network of civil society stakeholders in the area of governance, democracy and human rights. It will also set forth the optimal approach to the conduct of advocacy and citizen sensitization on the key themes of the AGA, as well as effective and constructive modalities and mechanisms for the engagement of political actors and policy-makers on governance, democracy and human rights.

The assignment is located at the ECOSOCC Secretariat in Lusaka, Zambia. The total duration of the of the mission will be 45 days the start date, expected to be in March 2022.

The primary objectives of the mission are to:

• Conduct an in-depth review of ECOSOCC’s statutory mandates in the areas of governance, democracy and human rights;
• Assess the organ’s institutional capacities including its technical clusters, national chapters and program partnerships relative to its responsibilities within the AGA Platform;
• Elaborate a cohesive and coherent program strategy and plan of action that fully leverage the organ’s comparative advantages and minimize duplication with other AU institutions within the AGA Platform.
• Conduct a needs assessment process to determine additional technical, staffing, financial and other support that may be required for the effective implementation of the strategy and its associated plan of action.

The technical assistance mission is expected to produce the following deliverables:

• Medium-term strategy for civil society engagement in the African Governance Architecture
• Plan of Action for civil society engagement in the African Governance Architecture

The Economic, Social and Cultural Council is an advisory organ of the African Union, established during the third Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2004 under the provisions of articles 5 (i) and 22 of the AU Constitutive Act. The organ is mandated to actively engage civil society in the processes and work of the Union, with particular regard to Africa’s integration and development. ECOSOCC comprises various social, private sector and professional groups of member states of the Union and the African diaspora and functions primarily as a bridge through which the African Union can partner and engage with civil society organizations on the continent.

As an advisory organ ECOSOCC is mandated to support the African Union’s key policy frameworks, including the African Governance Architecture (AGA). ECOSOCC is a member of the AGA Platform and leverages its CSO networks to advocate and promote the goals and objectives of the AGA.

The expert undertaking the assignment is expected to have the following qualifications:

• At least a master’s degree in a relevant field in the area of planning, public policy, development studies, social sciences or any related field.
• Proven experience leading organizational change processes including the development of strategic plans.
• Demonstrated experience of similar assignments for major institutions, preferably at regional or continental level.
• A good understanding of civil society engagement, particularly in the African context.
• Knowledge of the institutional framework of the African Union, including ECOSOCC.

Fluent level of spoken and written English. Fluency in any other African Union language will be an advantage.